Happy Belated Birthday, Mr. Faulkner

William Faulkner, the Nobel Prize-winning author of “The Sound and the Fury,” “As I Lay Dying,” and “Light in August,” was thankfully outspoken regarding the do’s and don’ts of his craft. Though noted for his heavily stylized prose, the writer championed plot over ornate syntax–a strange opinion for a man who once penned a five-word chapter (“My mother is a fish.”) According to him, if the story is compelling enough, the style will follow.

In honor of Faulkner’s 116th birthday, here are six of his best tips on writing.